not sure if anyone gives a shit but if you guys are stoned like me during the covid times you can watch all of the latest series on instaflixxer. Been binge watching with my brother lately =)
"Drama" doesn't have the same meaning/connotation in Korea than in the western world. "Drama" is the word koreans use for tv shows. They even call US tv shows "american dramas". Korean dramas are basically korean tv shows, and that includes fantasy, crime, thrillers, contemporary, romance, comedy, everything. That would explain why Wicked Fox wasn't really what you thought it would be :)
Standalone novels are wildly underestimated by fantasy author. Sometimes, I want to dive into a good book without committing to a series of 3+ instalments.
One of my favs for standalone is "the Golem and the Jinni" by Wecker. It has two genres I really don't like - historical fiction and urban fantasy, BUT the combination is perfect.
Yay Sword of Kaigen! Such a great story! Every time you mention Innis Lear, I am reminded that I still need to pick up a copy. Really want to try that one, it sounds like something I would like!
My favorite stand alone is Sky in the Deep! I love that book and the family relationship is so beautiful and really shows that we are all the same at heart and just want to protect the people we love! 🥰🥰
I also thought fantasy stand-alones weren’t that common, so this made me curious and I went back to check and it turns out I’ve also read a bunch of them. I think maybe hearing people say it so much just made me believe it without thinking about it, because my shelves have a lot! Looking forward to the next two instalments! :):)
I am a little late to this video, but I am always wanting to read more standalone fantasy. Being a huge fantasy series reader, having standalone books at hand is a blessing. Thanks for the recommendations. Really interested in a house of salt and sorrows.
I will personally kiss every author who writes a fantasy stand alone novel. And I suggest everyone else should too, because we need more fantasy standalone novels. I just hope the writers think I good looking enough to feel lucky enough to get kissed me by.
The problem with standalone books is they are not profitable for authors to write. Often times the 1st book in a series looses money or breaks even just on the hope the rest of the novels in the series produce a return. A lot of authors love to write standalone books but unfortunately they also like to eat.
I am so excited for these videos! I've been wanting more stand alone fantasy recs. I put Wicked Fox on my wish list because of you (still haven't gotten or read it yet lol) and now I'm adding The Sword of Kaigen. I LOVED The House of Salt and Sorrows. It was one of my top reads last year. Yes, tropey but so very well written - beautifully even. And I loved that she turned a fairy tale into this gothic horror so so good! Thanks for another great video.
I loved these recommendations! I actually started a new list based on the Nameless Queen rec and was wondering if you could do a video where you list a few YA books that are similar in terms of avoiding some of the steamier romance areas. I work at a nonprofit in Phoenix and we have a mentor program for children in care. I've always wanted to put out book recommendations for some of the teens, but since it would be recommendations coming from an organization, I would want to make sure they are very appropriate.
One of my all-time favorite stand alone fantasy books is Retina's Song by David Eddings. It revolves around a family friend of identical twins, one of which does tragically and the other twin has to deal with the death of her sister.
Two of my fave fantasy standalones are Soundless by Richelle Meade (soooo underrated, I think it was one of the most unique reading experiences) and Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White (again so underrated and I don’t understand why it gets so much hate, I thought it was so unique and brilliantly done)
The Wicked Fox was so good! I really enjoyed it, though I haven't read the companion book yet. Sword of Kaigen is probably my favorite, and I love seeing everyone talk about it! I picked up Queens if Innis Lear but haven't gotten to it yet, it is one I want to get to this year.
I very rarely reach for standalone fantasy but a lot of these really intrigue me, especially The Queens of Innis Lear and Best Served Cold! I've been craving books with great character work at the moment
I really need to get to Queens of Innis Lear! Everytime I hear someone say 'it's slow and a little bit boring' I know that I will love it. 😂 Sword of Kaigen I'm a little bit hesitant because I believe it's set in our time (could be completely mistaken) and I don't really like too much modern stuff in my fantasy. But I heard so many great things about the story that I want to try it anyway.
Loved wicked fox and the companion vicious spirits. You should give vicious spirits a try. Its technically a sequel but focuses on two other characters. Sarah Beth durst has a lot of young adult stand-alones that are great now that you've read the queens of renthia series. Love ur videos and cute Luna bear!
Thanks for this video! I would love to see a video on your favourite series that are completed. I feel like I read so many books last year from series that aren’t completed lol
So late to this video haha but yesss love a good standalone. I had no idea House of Salt and Sorrows was supposed to be kind of creepy! I’m such a baby so good to know 😂
I know that I'm going to like Queens of Innis Lear, because it definitely has a lot of elements that I like and I am always in search of a good standalone, but it's big and I keep putting it off. Hoping I get to it this year, though.
House of salt and sorrows was one of my favorite books of 2020! The writing was spectacular, I thought I was sitting in the manor with the girls and I was one of the sisters.
Two of my favorite YA fantasy standalone books are Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson and Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross 🥰 i just recently started picking up standalones haha I am a series lover.
Sword of Kaigen's already on the list, but I may also have to check out Nameless Queen. Sounds like my kind of thing. I recently read To Kill a Kingdom, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Not a favorite, but a fun read that changes up a classic well. And I didn't find the romance too horribly forced.
Man, I wish I liked Kaigen more :( Thanks for all these recommendations. I think there needs to be more standalones in fantasy. They're less intimidating and good segues for people who don't read much fantasy.
I tried to make a list of favorite standalone fantasies myself & realized I don't read enough of them 😅 so thanks for the recommendations! I haven't read The Queens of Innis Lear (yet) but if you liked it for the slow pace, family dynamics & how one action influences another, and if you're also interested in slow-burn romance and realistic characters & relationships I do recommend the K-Drama Once Again (I believe it's on Netflix)!
I'm hoping you also mention some of Neil Gaiman's works in your next videos. American Gods and Sandman are super popular (all of his books are tbh) but I don't see many booktubers mention the surreal experience of reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane or the dreamlike world of Neverwhere.
Wicked Fox's "companion" was really just a sequel in my opinion. It wraps up the loose ends from the first book and explores more Korean mythology and I actually enjoyed it more than the first one!
Patricia McKillip only writes fantasy stand-alones and they are beautiful. My favorites are In the Forests of Serre and Alphabet of Thorns. I also really love the books Sunshine and Chalice by Robin McKinley.
I recommend a stand alone fantasy graphic novel - Bone by Jeff Smith. It is probably the best graphic novel i have ever read. And i will definitely get one of the ones you recommended, I need more to read!
I didn't know Wicked Fox was A Stand alone! Sword of Kaigen sound cool! I've been wanting to read House of Salt and Sorrows! Thank you for this. I've been wanting to read more stand alones!
I've owned The Queens of Innis Lear for so long and just have never gotten around to reading it. I feel like I need to be in the right mood, since it's so slow, or I won't enjoy it.
As someone who lived in Korea for years, I was hoping Wicked Fox would be different because it was a Korean-American author. Nope. DNF'ed it. The plot just stopped halfway through and went full kdrama with nothing happening for like 150 pages. My husband (native Korean) laughed at me and was like you should have known better. 💀
The old faerie tales are often better than the disney retellings, and far more darker. Example, in the original Mermaid's tale, Ursula cut out Ariel's tongue.
Hello😄 Can you please recommend some amazing and fun fantasy series (Nothing Grim Dark) which are full of adventures, mesmerizing world and great characters and friendships ? 🌼
Read The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. The first books is kinda strange as you follow characters on a journey and most of what they do is tell stories but each book after just gets better and better. It’s one of my favorites and I know Elle has recommended it before ☺️
im fond of folklore at some point, but unfortunately DNF Wicked Fox...its too dragging. this is just personal opinion. tried to finish but stopped halfway through...now its in my donation bag.
Can u recommend some urban fantasy books .... Something like teen character suddenly enters a fantasy world and make friends and continue their adventure.... 🙃🙃
